Receive coil unit and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

Abstract

A receive coil unit having an apron shape includes a body part in which a plurality of receive coils that receive magnetic resonance signals from a subject under examination are disposed, and that covers a front side and a lateral side of the subject under examination, a first strap-shaped part and a second strap-shaped part that each have one end portion connected to an upper portion of the body part and that have strap shapes respectively placed on both shoulders of the subject under examination, and a first belt and a second belt that are connected to the other end portion of the first strap-shaped part and the other end portion of the second strap-shaped part and that are attachable to and detachable from each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A receive coil unit having an apron shape, comprising:
 a body part in which a plurality of receive coils that receive magnetic resonance signals from a subject under examination are disposed, and that covers a front side and a lateral side of the subject under examination;   a first strap-shaped part and a second strap-shaped part that each have one end portion connected to an upper portion of the body part and that have strap shapes respectively placed on both shoulders of the subject under examination; and   a first belt and a second belt that are connected to the other end portion of the first strap-shaped part and the other end portion of the second strap-shaped part and that are attachable to and detachable from each other.   
     
     
         2 . The receive coil unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of receive coils are disposed in the first strap-shaped part and the second strap-shaped part.   
     
     
         3 . The receive coil unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first belt and the second belt are attachable to and detachable from each other by a hook-and-loop fastener.   
     
     
         4 . The receive coil unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a total weight of the first belt and the second belt is 20% or more of a weight of the body part.   
     
     
         5 . The receive coil unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the body part has a connector to which a reception cable connected to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is connected.   
     
     
         6 . The receive coil unit according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the connector is disposed at a position corresponding to a chest of the subject under examination.   
     
     
         7 . The receive coil unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional element that is connected to an end portion of the body part, that has the plurality of receive coils disposed therein, and that covers the front side and the lateral side of the subject under examination.   
     
     
         8 . The receive coil unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fixing belt that is attached to the body part and that fixes the subject under examination to a table of an examination bed of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The receive coil unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a winding belt for winding the body part around a body of the subject under examination.   
     
     
         10 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
 the receive coil unit according to  claim 1 .